Thomas s



p 1929- T. s. KVEMBLE 1,728,892

SPRING SUPPORT FOR AUTO BUS-SE5, ETC

Original Filed July 2, 1924 w I E12: V w P H I .11] H g; m

. N VENTOR M BY M%ORN N Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE THOMAS S. KEMBLE, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL GASELECTRIC COMPANY, OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SPRINGSUPPORT FOR AUTO BUSSES, ETC.

Original application filed July 2, 1924, Serial No. 723,772. Divided andthis application filed June 13,

My invention relates specifically to busses having a four-wheel electricdrive, such as described in my copending application, Serial No.723,772, of which this is a division; though it will appear to'thoscskilled in the art, from the hereinafter contained description and thedrawings herein referred to, that it is not directed exclusively to suchtype of drive, but may be found useful in connection with gear- 0 drivenaxles where a differential and carrier are substituted for the electricmotors, and suitable drive connections are provided for thedifferential.

My invention has for its object, to provide a construction in which thesprings are mounted upon pivots secured to the cross member of thechassis.

A further object is to make the said cross member detachable, so that itis possible to 90 quickly and easily remove the entire driving assemblyfor adjustment or repair, and to substitute another power plant, so thatthe bus does not need to be laid up or out of service while its drivingpower plant is being repaired or adjusted. This laying up of busseswhile such work is being done, is one of the serious expenses in theirmaintenance or cost of upkeep.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readilyunderstood by having reference to the accompanying drawings, which arehereunto annexed and are a part of this specification, in which- Fig. 1is a plan view, showing a fragmentary portion of a bus chassis with thepower plant, and equipped with my improved spring mounting; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged detail views.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entiredescription.

For the purpose of a full disclosure of my invention, I shall describein detail a specific embodiment of my improvement, but it will beobvious that numerous changes might be made in the concrete embodimentthus disclosed, within the scope of the hereinafter contained claims. Itherefore do not desire to be understood as limiting myself, in thebroader aspect of my invention, to the specific Serial No. 198,660.

details of construction, except as such limitations shall appear in theclaims.

As shown in the drawings, the chassis is provided with two side frames 1and 2 and a cross member 3. to which is secured by my torque system 4two pairs of electric motors 5 and 6. which are connected to wheels 7through suitable gear trains (not shown). Upon the side frames 1 and 2,and intermediate the motors 5 and 6, I mount brackets S and 9. which maybe secured by rivets 10 and 11. or by welding or any other desirablemethod. to hold them firmly and securely in place. 1): -h of thebrackets 8 and 9 is provided with vertical bearings 12 and 13. and 14-and 15, respectively. The cross member 3 terminates at each end in a web20, corresponding to the brackets 8 and 9, and is provided with bosses16, which have central apertures which registerwith the verticalbearings 12. 13, 1 1 and 15. Threaded bolts 17 extend through thevertical bearings 12,

13, 14 and 15, and the bosses 1'6, and are provided with nuts 18 whichserve to draw the cross member 3 and the brackets 8 and 9 tightly andfirmly together. A horizontal bearing 19 is provided in each end of thecross member 3, below the web 20 and intermediate the vertical bearings12 and 13, and 1 1 and 15, on the brackets 8 and 9. In these bearings 19are mounted the spring pivots or trunnions, being held in position by anut 22 and washer 23. The outer end 24; of the spring pivot or trunnionforms the support of the springs 25, which are held in place by U-bolts26 and 27. Shackle plates 28 and 29 bear on the top of the springs 25 attheir center, and

are held by nuts 30 on the ends of the U-bolts cross member 3 is freedfrom the chassis 100 frame and he whole assembly---axl.es, torque systemor connections, wheels and springs may be rolled from under the body ofthe vehicle, as a unit. A new, or repaired and adjusted, assembly may berolled into its place, the four bolts 17 replaced, the nuts 18 tightenedup, and the bus is again ready for use.

Having described my invention, what I regard as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vehicle, a chassis frame, a drive, comprising two axles arrangedin tandem, springs connecting said axles, a removable cross-member,brackets secured to the side members of said chassis, there beingvertical bearings in said brackets, webs on the ends of saidcross-member having apertures therein which register with theverticalbea-rings in said brackets, bolts which fasten said webs to saidbrackets, a horizontal bearing formed in each end of said cross-memberbelow the web, a spring support mounted in and ex tending outwardly fromsaid bearing, U-bolts to secure said springs to said spring supports.

2. In a vehicle, a chassis frame, a drive, comprising two axles arrangedin tandem, springs connecting said axles, a removable cross-member,brackets secured to the side members of said chassis, there beingvertical bearings in said brackets, webs on the ends of saidcross-member having apertures therein which register with the verticalbearings in said brackets, bolts which fasten said webs to saidbrackets, a horizontal bearing formed in each end of said cross-memberbelow the web, a spring support detachably mounted in and extendingoutwardly from said bearing, U-bolts to secure said springs to saidspring supports.

3. In a vehicle, a chassis frame, a drive, comprising two axles arrangedin tandem, springs connecting said axles, a removable cross-member,brackets secured tothe side members of said chassis, there beingvertical bearings in said brackets, webs on the ends of saidcross-member having apertures therein which register with the verticalhearings in said brackets, bolts which fasten said webs to saidbrackets, a horizontal bearing formed in each end of said cross-memberbelow the web, a spring support mounted in and extending outwardly fromsaid bearing, U- bolts to secure said springs to-said spring supports,and links arranged to transmit axle torque reactions to saidcross-member, said links being secured to said cross-member and-saidaxles.

4:. In a vehicle, a chassis frame, side members for said chassis frame,a removable cross mmber rigidly connecting said side members, a drivecomprising two axles arranged in tandem, torque rods which connect saidaxles to said cross bar members, springs connecting said axles, springsupports secured to said springs, projections from the ends of saidremovable cross member, said spring supports being journalled on saidprojections, said cross member constituting the sole connection betweensaid axles and said chassis frame. 4 THOMAS S. KEMBLE.

